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A Quarterly Newsletter Published by Vol. 27, No. 1 g the University of California Cooperative Extension Winter 2020 and the UC Master Gardeners of Placer and Nevada Counties In This Issue Is Your Soil the Cause of Is Your Soil the Cause of Your ’s Problems? Your Plant’s Problems? 1 by Jan Birdsall, UC Master of Placer County BotLat: Culinary Terms 2 Are you thinking your plant dam- Shade Conditions 3 age is not just pest related, or have you eliminated disease as the source All-Star: Poker Plant 5 of your issue? Considering biotic dis- Frost Protection 5 orders, caused by living organisms such as infectious diseases and/or ar- How to Prune California thropod pests, might be the first step Native 6 in your investigation, but those are not The December Garden 7 the only sources of plant damage. The other culprits are abiotic disorders, Hotline FAQ: Transplanting which occur when environmental fac- Heritage Roses 8 tors develop, such as weather related, human error or soil issues. This article Elderberry 9 will look at soil issues including soil Dormant Fruit Care 9 compaction, nutrient deficiencies and pH imbalances. Events Calendar 10 Whether due to high traffic or high clay composition, soil compaction pre- vents good root growth, drainage, and aeration, which in turn obstructs the plant roots from getting the needed air, water and nutrients to grow and develop. Aera- tion and avoiding foot traffic on wet or dry garden bed areas will help as well using mulch on the soil surface. However, for serious compaction, your garden beds should likely be amended with , worm castings, or aged or composted animal manure. Nutrient deficiencies are common but are normally solvable. In California, nitrogen is naturally low in most of our soils. There could be other nutrient defi- ciencies in the soil as well; therefore, testing your soil is a way to help find out and potentially solve this problem. Although there are over-the-counter soil test kits, we recommend sending your soil sample to a lab for a full soil analysis. In California, soil typically is between pH 5.0 to 8.3. Disproportionate acid- ity or alkalinity inhibits certain nutrients from being absorbed in the soil and can Continued on next page

Website: http://ceplacernevada.ucdavis.edu Continued from previous page agri-cola, ae m tiller of the field, farmer, husbandman release other nutrients and minerals in caulis, is m stalk, stem of a plant; cabbage colo, colui, cultum 3 to care for; a) to till, cultivate, toxic amounts. For maximum nutrient farm; b) to tend; adj. cultus 3 cultivated, tilled (cul- absorption, the soil should be slightly ta, orum n/pl tilled land, , plantations), cresco, crevi,(cretum) 3 to grow acidic at pH 6.5 to 6.8, which can be cultus m cultivation, labor, tilling; a) cultivated land; ascertained by testing your soil with a b) care, training, education; c) culture, civilization, florens, tis blooming, flowering, flourishing lab test or do-it-yourself kit. In general, floreo, ui 2 to bloom, blossom. lime products like “Oystershell lime” flos, oris m , blossom fodio, fossom 3 to dig, dig up can be used to increase soil pH while folium, i n ; foliage herba, ae f grass, blade, , herbage, turf soil sulfur and compost are used to hortus, i m garden; pl. park. lower high pH. radix f root; a) radish; b) lower part, foot. viridis, e green; fresh, youthful. Determining the solution to your vita, ae f life Corner plant’s problem takes learning to be- xylem come a garden detective! zephyBotLat Find Out What Those References Weird Plant Names Mean • Proctor, Martha. Garden Soil Needs a Healthy Balance: How by Peggy Beltramo, UC Master Gardener of Placer County soil pH affects availability of Winter weather means less time in the garden and that more time in the plant nutrients. University of kitchen, so let’s look at BotLat words for plants used in recipes, namely . California Marin Master Garden- There are several specific epithets (descriptive second word of a plant name) ers. 2019. http://marinmg.ucanr. commonly used for edible plants. Let’s take them in alphabetical order. edu/Great_Gardening_Infor- First, officinalis which comes from Latin, meaning ‘of the officina,’ which was mation/Gardening_Tips_Tech- the storeroom in a monastary where provisions and medicines were kept. For in- niques_and_Terminology/ stance Melissa officinalis, or lemon balm, is a common herb plant with lemony Gardening_Basics/Garden_ leaves. The of this plant, Melissa, comes from the Greek for honeybee. Other Soil_Needs_a_Health_Balance/ herbs with this epithet are Zingiber officinale (ginger), and Calendula officinalis, • Questions and Answers (pot marigold). Note: a specific epithet matches the gender of its genus word, so two about Soils and Fertilizer in different forms—officinalis and officinale. the Garden. University of Next in line is sativum, meaning ‘cultivated.’ An example is Coriandrum sati- California, The California vum, which is actually two herbs: the plant’s strong-scented foliage (cilantro) and Garden Web, Vegetables its aromatic seeds (coriander). The genus, Coriandrum, comes from Greek, kori- and Sustainable. n.d. http:// andron, referring to the unpleasant smell of its unripe fruits. Two other ‘cultivated’ cagardenweb.ucanr.edu/ culinary plants are: Allium sativum (garlic) and Avena sativa (oats). Vegetables/?uid=26&ds=462 Finally, we come to vulgaris, which translates as ‘common.’ The first herb,Foe - niculum vulgare (fennel), is typically grown in vegetable and herb gardens for its anise-flavored foliage and seeds. The genus name comes from the Latin name for this traditional salad and potherb which, in Italian, is called finocchio. Other com- mon herbs include: Thymus vulgaris (thyme) and Beta vulgaris (beets.) So now, when you encounter one of these specific epithets in a BotLat name, you will know that it has edible or herbal properties, somewhere in its past. Let’s go cook something.

Reference: • Plant Finder. Missouri . https://www.missouribotani- calgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfinder- search.aspx

• Stearn, William T. Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names for . Cas- sell Publishers Limited. 1992.

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 2 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties Remember to Update Footer Issue Info! Master and last pages

Site Conditions of a Shade Garden Article and photos by Annette Wyrick, UC Master Gardener of Placer County Most gardeners have one trouble spot in the garden and it is almost always in the shade. You may have tried planting different plants, but they just do not thrive. Let’s tackle these tricky garden spots by choosing plants that will! Sun ex- posure and the physical properties of your soil are key factors of planting success. The first step to selecting plants is to evaluate your garden. A plot plan is useful as a base for mapping your plants and it will indicate which direction is north. If you don’t have a plot plan of your property, a hand drawn outline of structures on your property will do. A quick map search online will show you how your property sits in relation to north. So why is knowing which direction is north in your garden important? It will help you understand sun exposure in your planting areas. There are multiple degrees of sun exposure from full sun to full shade. As you take an inventory of your garden, note the sun exposure levels described in Table 1. Before you move to the next step of plant selection, it must be brought to your attention that the amount of sunlight a location receives will change throughout the year. For example, it is the middle of winter and you noted on your garden map a planting area that receives full shade. A structure will cast the most shade in winter when the sun is at a lower angle to the horizon. During summer, the sun is at a much higher angle to the horizon and the shadow will be much shorter. In summer, your full shade bed may have full sun if there aren’t any other TABLE 1: Sun Exposure Defined or structures nearby to provide shade. Full Sun 6 + hours of sun a day The most common shady garden areas are north and east sides of struc- Partial Sun 4 to 6 hours of sun a day, shaded during the most intense sun tures and under structures and trees. Partial Shade 4 to 6 hours of morning sun, with shade the rest of the day Some examples of residential struc- Dappled Sun Receives a mix of sun and shade throughout the day tures are house walls, fences, pergolas, Full Shade Receives very little direct sunlight decks, and sheds. The amount of shade beneath a tree depends on the density of its canopy. In general, you will have dappled shade under trees and partial sun to partial shade on the east side of a structure. You may have a shade garden with a combination of these areas. For example, you may have some planted References: along the east side of your house and a tree that shades them too. These shrubs • Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, will most likely be in a full shade zone. and Bart O’Brien. California Na- Next, it is time to take a closer look at the soil. Some physical properties of tive Plants for the Garden. Los soil include structure, texture, and moisture content. Soil structure is the arrange- Olivos: Cachuma Press, 2015. ment of groups of soil particles. A soil that has good structure contains pores for air, water, and nutrients to move through. Roots can grow through soil with good • Lichter, John, Ellen Zagory and structure easily. Soil texture is the proportion of sand, silt, and clay present. In Pavel Svihra. Landscaping Un- general, the soil in Placer County contains a large amount of clay. While soil tex- der Native Oaks of the Central ture is difficult to change, in most situations soil structure can be improved by Valley. University of California amending with compost and a topcoat of mulch. For more information on Foot- Cooperative Extension. July hill soils, see http://pcmg.ucanr.org/files/166289.pdf 2003. May 27, 2019. http:// Let’s examine some common shady areas. In shady areas along the north side pcmg.ucanr.org/files/178863.pdf of a home’s foundation, the soil moisture can vary. Soil closest to the house may be protected from the home’s eves and dry. If the area receives supplemental irrigation, • Pittenger, Dennis R. California the soil may remain moist and cool. The soil beneath a mature tree will contain an Master Gardener Handbook. extensive root system and may be compacted. This means the soil structure is poor. UCANR Publication 3382. Tree roots typically occupy the top 18 inches of soil and will spread well beyond the canopy of the tree. Anything planted in this zone will be competing with the tree for root space, air, moisture, and nutrients. For example, a redwood tree has shal- low and matted roots which makes it difficult to underplant. Most trees have soil spaces among the root system. You will have to carefully investigate where roots are Continued on next page The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 3 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties

Continued on next page Continued from previous page located. If you decide to plant between the roots, plants with of the plant, mature size, or evergreen, foliage small root systems would be a good choice. Prostrate plants and flower color, and tolerance of deer should be considered will fill a larger space with less soil disturbance. Please note when selecting plants. The table below provides some plant that trees do not like their roots disturbed and the soil level suggestions. should not be altered. An alternative to planting in this zone is to add a 2 inch layer of mulch starting about 4 inches away from the tree trunk. For more information on planting be- low trees, visit https://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/articles/2011/ PlantingUnderTree.shtml By surveying your garden, you will be able to identify the type of shade in your planting areas and soil moisture content and structure. If you are adding plants to an already established planting bed, the new plants should have the same water requirements as the established plants. Addi- tional plant characteristics such as hardiness zone, function

Name Comments WUCOLS* Exposure Soil *WUCOLS: Water Use Classification of Landscape Species, https://ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS/ Arctostaphylos sp. Many varieties offer a range of sizes. Ground covers Low to Part Sun Average, Manzanita tend to be slow to establish among tree roots. These Moderate to Dappled Well-drained evergreen plants have small white to pink bell shaped Shade in spring. Oak tree compatible. Calycanthus An evergreen with maroon spring flowers that Moderate Part Sun Adaptable occidentalis are wine scented. to Dappled Spicebush Shade Carpenteria An evergreen shrub with white Camellia-like flowers. Low Part Shade Adaptable californica Deer tolerant. Oak tree compatible. to Full Shade Bush anemone Cercis occidentalis A small deciduous tree with green heart shaped leaves. Very Low Part Sun Well-drained Western Redbud It has magenta spring flowers and yellow to red fall to Dappled foliage. This plant likes afternoon shade in the hot Shade inland valley. Deer tolerant. Oak tree compatible. Iris sp. Small rhizomes fit among most tree roots. Deer toler- Low to High Part Shade Average, Iris ant. Oak tree compatible. depending to Dappled Well-drained on variety Shade Leymus triticoides 1-2’ tall spreading grass will go summer dormant if Low Sun to Dap- Adaptable ‘Lagunita’ water is withheld. It will stay green in summer with pled Shade Lagunita Wild Rye 2 waterings per month. Few seed heads develop and are pet friendly. Good among tree roots. Deer tolerant. Oak tree compatible. Rhamnus sp. Evergreen shrubs with small yellow flowers that de- Low Sun to Full Average, Coffeeberry velop into multi-colored berries in fall. Deer tolerant. Shade Well-drained Oak tree compatible. Ribes sp. Deciduous shrubs with erect vase shape. Gooseberry Low Part Sun Adaptable Currant and plants have spines. Ribes sp. produce multi-colored to Dappled Gooseberry berries. Flower color depends on the variety. Deer Shade tolerant. Oak tree compatible. Satureja douglasii A member of the mint family, this evergreen ground Moderate Part Shade Adaptable Yerba Buena cover slowly spreads. Deer tolerant. Dappled Shade Sisyrinchium A herbaceous perennial that will go summer dormant. Low to Part Sun Adaptable, bellum It has grass-like foliage and blue spring flowers. Good Moderate to Dappled Tolerates Blue-Eyed Grass among tree roots. Shade heavy clay The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 4 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties Kniphofia ‘Christmas Cheer’ Christmas Cheer Poker Plant by Jan Birdsall, UC Master Gardener of Placer County

Why not add a plant to your holi- day wish list which will bloom be- fore the holiday season and provides brilliant orange buds which open to deep gold tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees? Well, you can find that and more in the drought tolerant UC Davis all-star Kniphofia ‘Christmas Cheer’ which is a of The warmth from incandescent holiday vigorous species Kniphofia rooperi. lights can help protect sensitive plants This plant blooms in fall, continues from frost damage. through late spring in mild winter areas or fall to first frost elsewhere. Frost Protection Flowers are on top of four to five foot tall stems. The leaves can be as much by Carol Feldman, as five feet long and two inches wide, UC Master Gardener of Placer County and form a medium-large or six to How low will it go? Frost is coming and eight foot mass across as it gets older. has many wondering what to do about ‘Christmas Cheer’ is a perennial, likes to be planted in full or part sun and their sensitive plants. Here’s some is deer resistant. As the flowers age they get darker in color, from dark red advice on how to prepare when the orange at tip to burnt orange to golden yellow at the bottom, and should be forecast says hard freeze, and how to eventually deadheaded because old spikes are not very good-looking. In addi- recover afterwards. tion, leaves collapse on the ground and will smother any plants in their way. After blooming season, you can trim down the plant’s mass and it will come When the prediction calls for temps back. You can divide this plant after blooming; however, it doesn’t seem to below 30 degrees, try to water your need dividing to stay vigorous. Hope you receive one for the holidays! plants in advance, because damp soil holds more heat than dry soil. If you can, cover plants that are known to be frost-tender, and/or lay out some incandescent Christmas lights for a References: little warmth. And afterwards, don’t prune off dead-looking branches. Wait • Christmas cheer poker plant. until the spring thaw because those UC Davis and Public damaged areas can still help protect Garden. n.d. https://arboretum. the plant. ucdavis.edu/plant/Christmas- cheer-poker-plant Check out this informative article on frost from the Sacramento County • Sunset Western Garden Book. Master Gardeners: http://sacmg.ucanr. Sunset Publishing Corporation, edu/Frost_Protection/ Eighth edition. 2007.

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 5 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties GO EASY! How to Prune California Native Plants by Laurie McGonagill, UC Master Gardener of Placer County

The saying that is an art as well as a science is 5) Prune these deciduous plants in mid to late winter: especially true when applied to California native plants. The Aesculus californica (California buckeye), Ribes spp. natural form of shrubs and trees, subshrubs, and herbaceous (currant and gooseberry), Lonicera hispidula (honeysuckle), perennials really shines when care is taken to reveal beauty Philadelphus lewisii (mock orange), Calycanthus occidenta- through careful and limited trimming at the proper time. lis (Western spice bush), Vitis californica (California grape), Native plants do not respond well to constant shaping, as in Clematis lasianthus (pipestem clematis), Rosa californica topiary, or shearing to control size which are common prac- (California wild rose). Note: keep as much of the wild rose as tices with plants in our domestic landscape. They do like a possible since the brush and rose hips are important habitat light prune or trim especially if they look shaggy or leggy and food for birds and other pollinators. Exception: Prune or to improve their health. But you can also leave them alone Cercis occidentalis (Western redbud) after flowering. to reveal their natural shape. 6) Cut plants to the ground (coppice) to rejuvenate: Unlike many non-natives that dot our landscape which Some plants to coppice include Baccharis pilularis (coy- have one dormant period, our native plants have two, sum- ote bush), Carpenteria californica (bush anemone), Cercis mer and mid-winter. These are the most beneficial times occidentalis (western redbud). Coppicing acts on the plant to prune. Pruning in late fall or early winter will start new as a wildfire would. This technique should be used sparingly growth that does not have time to harden before it gets cold. on mature plants that have gotten ragged. Valuable pollinator food and habitat is also removed so it is Learn by doing and don’t be afraid to experiment! best not to prune then. Mid to late winter is preferable, al- Remember: Our native plants evolved to adapt to rocky, though in summer you can remove the stalks of herbaceous mineral-laden soil and long periods without rain. They gen- perennials to encourage a second bloom. erally don’t need fertilizer, organic amendments and, once A few rules apply to pruning plants in general: established, regular water. When in doubt, mimic nature! • Remove dead or diseased growth anytime unless the plant is frost-sensitive. • Remove limbs that cross. • Prune to create air flow and improve light penetration. • Prune young shrubs and trees to promote good branch structure. • Avoid pruning during wet weather to reduce the chance of infection. Now, for California natives! Here is when to prune, types of plants to prune, and techniques to use. 1) Prune these evergreen shrubs and trees after they finish flowering: Ceanothus spp. (California lilac), Frangula californica Calycanthus occidentalis, western spice bush. (coffeeberry), Cercocarpus betuloides (mountain mahoga- Photo by Elaine Applebaum ny), Arctostaphylos spp. (manzanita). Use a light hand with manzanita as there is no regrowth at a limb that is removed. 2) Prune broadleaf evergreen shrubs and trees in References late summer: • Oquist, Linda. Pruning California Native Plants. Quercus spp. (oak), Arbutus menziesii (madrone), Um- Marin Master Gardeners. UCANR. nd. http://marinmg. bellularia californica (California bay laurel), Heteromeles ucanr.edu/Selecting_Plants/Plant_Showcase/Native_ arbutifolia (toyon), even though you will get some of the Plants_574/Pruning_California_Native_Plants/ growth! 3) Trim grasses such as Muhlenbergia rigens (deer • Zane, Nadia. Spring Pruning in the California Na- grass) almost to the ground every other year or so tive Garden. What’s Growing On – San Joaquin in late summer. Master Gardeners. UCANR. February 27, 2015. 4) Cut perennials and subshrubs almost to the https://www.ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail. ground in late fall or winter: cfm?postnum=16896 Epilobium canum (California fuchsia), you can mow it! Romneya coulteri (Matilija poppy), Verbena lilacina ‘De • Levin, Allison. Pruning Native Plants—Part 1. Califor- La Mina’ (lilac verbena), flower stalks of penstemon, buck- nia Native Plant Society. December 1, 2011. https:// wheat, and salvia species. www.cnps.org/gardening/pruning-native-plants-4033

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 6 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties The December Garden—A Garden of Delights by Ann Wright, UC Master Gardener of Nevada County And just like that—December is rounding the bend. and other cole . There is not much that can be done Leaves continue to fall, dry winds come and go, and in hopes about the , but the little green cabbage loopers can of the next welcome round of rain, the garden is still team- be picked off plants, seedlings being the most vulnerable. ing with life. The rain will bring much needed relief to plants Cabbageworm larvae are green and very hairy, with an al- and trees, and will also bring a sense of relief to us as well. most velvetlike appearance. A stroll through the garden in December is a time to con- • Divide actively growing native perennials and grasses. Cut sider what is needed next—both in the garden and in our chrysanthemums six to eight inches above the ground af- busy lives. In my Penn Valley garden, tomatoes are still rip- ter fall blooms. Where other perennials are good forage for ening—not quickly, but some of the ‘Camp Joy Cherry’ and birds, leave them alone, otherwise now is a good time to ‘Red Racer’ tomatoes are still bright and flavorful as are the cut them to the ground. San Marzano paste tomatoes. The garden is popping with color, shape and texture. The bright red-orange barberry • Have some fun with garden plants this holiday season. (Berberis thunbergia ‘Aurea’) is eye catching, as are the re- Wreaths can be created using cuttings from conifers or na- maining delicate ‘Cupcakes’ cosmos. tive plants such as toyon or coffee berry. Other landscape A great place to escape the busy activities of the season, plants are rich in color this time of year and may add just there are things to be done in the garden in December. Being the right accent to decorations around the house. mindful not to tread on soggy garden • If considering gifts for gardeners, beds (which contributes to soil com- there are a number of options. The paction) here are some garden tips for gift of a plant may be a nice addition December. to someone’s yard – if they are able to • Continue to harvest what’s left of plant and then take care of it. Bloom- summer crops, harvest winter veg- ing plants are plentiful, and bare root etables and provide protection in trees are available to purchase or order case of a sudden hard frost. Clean up now. Books or publications from the under fruit trees to remove any dis- UCANR catalog may also be welcome eased fallen leaves or fruit. gifts for gardeners. An heirloom apple tree might be a perfect gift for someone • There is still time to plant Asian with tree space. The Felix Gillet Insti- greens and lettuce—especially if a tute is a local organization dedicated to cold frame or row cover is used to preserving and propagating edible and protect plants. Check soil tempera- ornamental heirloom plants, includ- ture and planting guidelines to make ing some of the area’s most prized fruit sure conditions are appropriate at Photo by Elaine Applebaum trees. Check out the website at ht t ps:// specific elevations. felixgillet.org. (The best time to plant • Plant or transplant seedlings of pines, Remove fallen fruit and leaves under bare root trees, blueberries, and canes cedars, firs and spruces. fruit trees to help avoid disease. is from December through January.) • Add fresh mulch to garden beds to insulate roots and help • End of year and commemorative gifts are also thoughtful keep from germinating during winter. Further pre- ways to gift in someone’s name and support local non- pare garden beds by adding compost material. If composting profits. The Nevada and Placer County Master Garden- leaves of deciduous trees, shred large leaves before compost- ers appreciate donations to help fund our demonstration ing by whacking or running a lawn mower over them. gardens and local projects. If you would like to donate to Shredded leaves will compost more readily. either local non-profit, go to the following website and be • If white moths or caterpillars are noticed in the garden sure to select the county to which you wish to donate, un- now, look a little closer! Cabbage loopers, cabbageworms der the designation section: http://donate.ucanr.edu. and diamondback moths can be present in winter gar- dens. The caterpillars are primarily foliage feeders that chew holes in leaves. Cabbage loopers feed on a vari- References ety of vegetable crops whereas cabbage worms and dia- • Flint, Mary Louise, A. Sutherland, K. Windbiel-Rojas. mondback caterpillars eat primarily cole crops and Vegetable Pest Identification for Gardens and Small other crucifers. Cabbage loopers are readily distinguished Farms. UCANR Publication #3553. 2018. by their typical inch-worm type looping. Cabbageworm (also known as imported cabbageworms) are more slug- • The Felix Gillet Institute. https://felixgillet.org. 2019. gish. Cabbage loopers eat the leaves of broccoli, cabbage

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 7 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties Hotline FAQ: Transplanting Her- itage Roses

I have a heritage rose that I need to transplant. When is the best time to move it, and can you give me some tips on how to transplant it properly? I really don’t want to lose it.

by Pauline Kuklis, UC Master Gardener of Placer County

Mature roses can be a bit touchy about being moved. However, you will Do you have greatly increase your chances of a successful transplant by following the steps questions? outlined below. Choose the right time to transplant. Call the Master Gardener • In our area, that would be late winter to very early spring when there is little Hotline in your county risk of a freeze and the plant is still dormant (little to no signs of new growth). Nevada Co. 530-273-0919 Get the rose ready for transplant. • Water deeply about one week prior to the move, then once more a few days Placer Co. 530-889-7388 later. • Prune as you normally would each year and remove all the leaves. Prepare the new location for the rose. • Dig a large hole in a location with good drainage (at least 2 or more feet in diameter and 15-18 inches deep). • Unless a soil analysis has been done and shows deficiencies, adding anything to the soil removed from the planting hole is not recommended. • Loosen the sides of the hole with a pitchfork or other tool to make it easier for the roots to penetrate. • Place enough of the soil into the center of the hole to create a small mound. Remove the rose. • Place a tarp next to the rose (or in a wheelbarrow), so you are ready to trans- port the rose to its new location. • Dig a circle about 12-18 inches from the rose and cut cleanly through any Copyright © 2007 The Regents of the roots you encounter. University of California. All rights reserved. • Insert your shovel into the circle you have dug and rock it back and forth to loosen the rootball. • Gently remove the rose, retaining as much soil on the rootball as possible and place it on your prepared tarp for transport. Replant the rose. • Place the rose in the new hole and spread the roots out over the mound of soil in the center (be sure the base of the rose sits a few inches above the top of the hole). • Fill the hole about half way with the soil, then water well and tamp lightly. • Once the water has fully drained, fill the rest of the hole and tamp it down firmly to remove air pockets. • Water again, and continue to water regularly until you see new growth. Keep soil moist but not soggy. • Fertilize lightly once the new growth begins. Refer to the following for more information on rose care: http://ipm.ucanr. edu/PDF/PESTNOTES/pnrosescultural.pdf

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 8 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties Elderberry by Joan Goff, UC Master Gardener of Placer County

Elderberry is the elder tree of myth and medicine. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will know that the most powerful wand was made of elder wood! Blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caeruleas) lives from western Mexico to the Ca- nadian border. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is also a small tree native to California, as well as Europe, Africa and Asia. A related elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is native east of the Rockies. An ancient source of medicine for native peoples of North America and in Europe, it is being researched for how it can heal wounds, lighten pain, reduce fever and more. In Europe elderberry was consid- ered home of gods and fairies. It was a sacred tree not only due to its inhabitants but also for the healing properties it had. Black Elderberry. Photo by Gene Sturla In the landscape, it is a wonderful small tree or shrub, providing shade, food and habitat for native animals, birds and insects. It blooms in sprays of white or References cream in the spring, followed by berries that turn from red to purple-black. While its blossoms and ripe fruit are edible; the unripe fruit, leaves, stems and roots are • Bolli, R. Plant Guide: Blue toxic due to cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids present. Elderberry jam, pies and Elderberry. U.S. Department of wine are creations from the ripe fruit. The red berries of other species are toxic Natural Resources and should not be gathered. Conservation Service n.d. http:// Elderberry is easy to propagate and grow. While it loves water, it can be very plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/ successful in dry places, once established. Elderberry can grow from a small plant cs_sanic5. into a nice tree rapidly when happy. It usually grows to 20 to 30 feet maximum. • Blue Elderberry. Calscape. Cali- It often creates a shrub that has many stems, though it can be trained to a single fornia Native Plant Society. n.d. leader. It is deciduous; losing its leaves in winter. Once established, it can live on https://calscape.org/Sambucus- little water and is happy in sun or shade. nigra-ssp.-caerulea-(Blue-Elder The berries of this small tree are important sources of summer food for many berry)?srchcr=sc5d9a2ec896f9f kinds of songbirds such as the western bluebird, indigo bunting, common house finch, red-shafted flicker, ash- throated flycatcher, black-headed grosbeak, scrub • Black Elderberry. Calscape. jay, mockingbird and western tanager. California Native Plant Society, Blue elderberry is planted because of its forage and cover value, productivity, n.d. https://calscape.org/Sambu- adaptability, and ease of establishment. It is a useful ground cover for stabiliz- cus-nigra-(Black-Elderberry)?src ing streambanks and eroding sites. It provides food, cover, perching, and nesting hcr=sc5dc0acfd1cdd0 sites for many species of birds and food and cover for various other wildlife, and it is important as browse for mule deer and elk. It is also habitat for many moths.

Confused About Dormant Fruit Tree Care? by Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardener of Placer County

Am I supposed to spray? If so, with what? And when? What about pruning? Homeowners with fruit trees may be asking themselves these questions over the winter months and it can sometimes seem overwhelming.

The UC California Backyard Website has a wealth of information to help you, including how to manage pests and diseases, pruning and training techniques, and details on maintenance and care for specific fruit trees. Are you just starting to think about growing your own fruit? This site has everything you need to consider to be successful.

Winter is the best time to tackle pruning and preventative spraying chores because the trees are dormant and beneficial insect predators are less likely to be around, so less likely to be harmed. Knowledge is power and the California Backyard Orchard website has all you need to know. Check it out!

Photo by Elaine Applebaum

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 9 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties Events Calendar Nevada County Demo Garden 1036 W. Main St., Grass Valley (on NID Grounds) Placer County Test Garden 11477 E. Ave., Auburn (Senior Garden, DeWitt Center) All events are free unless noted otherwise

February 8 March 14 January 10:00 – noon 10:00 am – noon January 4 Pollinators Summer Veggie Gardening 10:00 am – 11:00 am Grass Valley Elks Lodge Roseville Utility Exploration Center Container Gardening 109 South School Street 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville Loomis Library, 6050 Library Dr., Small fee; register at 916-746-1550 February 8 Loomis 10:00 am – noon March 14 January 18 Totally Tomatoes 10:00 – noon 10:00 am – 11:00 am Roseville Utility Exploration Center Bring Native Plants to Your Totally Tomatoes 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville Garden Auburn Library, 350 Nevada St., Small fee; register at 916-746-1550 Grass Valley Elks Lodge Auburn 109 South School Street February 15 January 18 10:00 – noon March 28 10:00 am – noon Straw Bale Gardening 10:00 – noon Fruit Tree Care Grass Valley Elks Lodge Flower Gardening from Seed Roseville Utility Exploration Center 109 South School Street Grass Valley Elks Lodge 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville 109 South School Street February 22 Small fee; register at 916-746-1550 10:00 – noon February Native Plant Propagating Grass Valley Elks Lodge February 1 109 South School Street 10:00 – noon 12 Month Vegetable Gardening February 29 Grass Valley Elks Lodge 10:00 – noon 109 South School Street Functional Irrigation Grass Valley Elks Lodge February 1 109 South School Street 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Bird and Bug Bonanza March Roseville Utility Exploration Center March 7 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville 10:00 – noon Totally Tomatoes Grass Valley Elks Lodge 109 South School Street Photo by Robyn Emme Nevada County events March 7 Find Updated Events in green boxes 10:00 am – 11:00 am Information on our Websites: Placer County events Vegetable Gardening http://pcmg.ucanr.org/ in yellow boxes Loomis Library, 6050 Library Dr., http://ncmg.ucanr.org/ Loomis

The Curious Gardener ~Winter 2020 10 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties The Curious Gardener ~ Winter 2020 11 UCCE Placer and Nevada Counties About Master Gardeners Have a Gardening Question? Our mission as University of California Master Gardener volunteers is to extend research-based Call our Hotline gardening and composting information to the public through various educational outreach methods. Placer County Residents We strive to present accurate, impartial information 530.889.7388 to local gardeners so they have the knowledge to make Nevada County Residents informed gardening decisions in regard to plant choices, soil fertility, pest management, irrigation practices, 530.273.0919 and more. Master Composter Rotline The Master Gardener volunteer program was 530.889.7399 started in the early 1970s at the Washington State University. Farm Advisors became overwhelmed by all UC Cooperative Extension the incoming calls from home gardeners and home- Placer County 11477 E Avenue steaders so they trained volunteers to answer these Auburn, CA 95603 questions and the “Master Gardener Program” was 530.889.7385 office born. The first University of California Master Gardener 530.889.7397 fax email: [email protected] programs began in 1980 in Sacramento and Riverside ? counties. The Nevada County and Placer County Master UC Cooperative Extension Gardener Associations began soon thereafter in 1983. Nevada County 255 So. Auburn Street Over 35 Years of Serving Grass Valley, CA 95945 530.273.4563 office Placer and Nevada Counties 530.273.4769 fax email: [email protected] Production Information The Curious Gardener is published quarterly by the How to Subscribe University of California Cooperative Extension Master Online subscriptions are free to Gardeners of Placer and Nevada Counties. residents of Placer and Nevada Counties. Kevin Marini, Editor Go to http://pcmg.ucanr.org/ Community Education Specialist: Home and Curious_Gardener_Newsletter/ to Composting Education, Master Gardener Coordinator sign up for your electronic delivery. Elaine Applebaum, Production Placer County Master Gardeners

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